“On February 23rd, President Trump declared that his new immigration priorities would get the “really bad dudes out of this country.” By sweepingly associating immigrants who overstayed their visa or crossed the border improperly with criminal activity, the President built upon a long tradition in U.S. political culture. Indeed, although his policies represent a major shift, they were made possible by a consistent strategy deployed since the 1970s to portray unauthorized immigration as criminal. As immigrants gradually became linked to illegality, the next step was simple: reshape immigration law so that the noose of criminality would tighten around their necks.”